When he first started his music career, Nigerian afrobeat singer Davido questioned why his millionaire father Chief Adedeji was frequently getting him arrested.
The musician claims that his father has always discouraged him from pursuing a career in music and has repeatedly advised him to prioritize his education because it is more crucial than music.
He claimed in an interview with Hot 97FM in New York that he was frequently detained by police officers sent by his father because he didn’t pay attention to what he was saying.
When Davido was scheduled to perform at an event, his father would have him arrested, and if that also happened, everyone else around him—including the event organizers and promoters—would also have been arrested.
“He sent police to get me… like he sees a billboard; for example, Davido performing, Wizkid performing’. He would send police to arrest everybody– the show promoter, if you’re there (you would be arrested),” he told the host.
When asked why his father was acting in that way, the boy replied that he was doing everything in his power to get him to go to school because he thought that was the only way to get him.
After being arrested, he admitted that he discovered he was well-liked while in a police cell when the officer in charge of the cell phone’s keys received a call. He was completely taken aback when his song played over the police siren.
When the police asked if he was Davido, he responded in the affirmative, at which point the officer produced the keys and released Davido from the cells, claiming that it was his song.
“He kept on doing it. Then there was one time. This is where I knew that ‘Oh I’m lit!’. They (the police) came and got me. Then I’m in the cell and the dude that got the keys his phone rings, and it’s my song! I said ‘that’s me’. He said ‘you’re Davido?’. I said ‘yes!’. And he let me go.”
When his father stopped arresting him, he explained that he had finished his education but was only working part-time at the time.
He quickly clarified that his father did not dislike music; rather, he was simply doing his best to encourage him to take his education seriously. He mentioned that his father is now his biggest and most ardent supporter and is constantly interested in what is coming up for him.
